Reported private hospital and clinic admissions in Scotland were at 13,455 in quarter 2 (Apr-Jun) 2025, a rise of 3% on the same period in 2024 according to figures released today by the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN). Scotland was the only UK country which saw an increase in private admissions in the quarter.
There was a record 6,165 private admissions paid for directly by patients. This is known as ‘self pay’ and includes using savings or loans to pay for diagnostic tests or treatment with a private facility. This type of admission was 4% above Q2 in 2024.
Admissions funded by private medical insurance were also at a high level (7,290). This is the second highest level ever and 3% above the same quarter in 2024.
The most common procedure was cataract surgery for which there were 2,430 admissions. Other prevalent procedures included hip replacement (655 admissions), diagnostic upper GI (gastrointestinal) endoscopy (605) and diagnostic colonoscopy (530).
Cataract surgery in Scotland can cost in the region of £3,000 per eye and hip replacement can be over £15,000.
“The pattern for private healthcare admissions is generally the same across the UK nations. Although Scotland is the outlier on this occasion, data from one quarter is not enough to show whether this will be a significant trend.
“‘Self pay’ has largely been declining in England, but its use has been continuing to grow in Scotland, and in Northern Ireland and Wales.
“This pattern continued in Scotland in this latest quarter and self-pay levels were at an all-time high. While there were still more admissions using private medical insurance, the difference between the two funding methods was much closer than it used to be.”
Richard Wells, PHIN’s Director of Technology and Insights
PHIN is a not-for-profit, independent organisation which is backed by the UK government. Its quarterly updates are based on its unique national dataset, which includes validated hospital activity from private hospitals and clinics across the UK.
For further information, visit www.phin.org.uk
ENDS
Notes to Editors
For more information, please contact Alistair Moses on alistair.moses@phin.org.uk or 07778 976 971.
About the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN)
PHIN is the independent, government-mandated source of information on privately funded healthcare in the UK. PHIN believes that transparency and better information enable better care, and exists to support patient choice and to provide data that helps drive improvement in healthcare.
With a mandate from the Competition and Markets Authority, PHIN is responsible for producing quality and safety data on privately funded healthcare in the UK, and publishing performance measures through its website.
With over 900,000 private healthcare admissions in the past year, the need for patients to be informed about their options is increasingly important and the PHIN website bridges that gap.
